Patriots determine Judge’s new coaching role for 2023 season
Jets: Hardman sees bright future
Despite a disastrous debut as the Patriots’ quarterbacks coach last year, Joe Judge was always expected to return to Bill Belichick’s staff in a new role.
But it wasn’t until recently that Judge’s new position was finalized.
According to a source, Judge will serve in an assistant head coach role and coach the special teams units alongside assistants Cam Achord and Joe Houston. Judge will also be a “liaison” between the coaching staff and scouting department, per Sports Illustrated, something Matt Patricia did as Belichick’s Senior Football Advisor during the 2021 season.
Judge originally joined the team as a special teams assistant in 2013. He excelled as the Patriots’ special teams coordinator from 2015-2019. Last year, the Pats’ special teams ranked dead last by DVOA, largely thanks to three kick return touchdowns allowed.
The 41-year-old assistant was one of the few coaches to represent the Patriots at the NFL combine last month. Judge has worked closely with Belichick, whose recommendation helped him land the Giants head-coaching job in 2020. Judge lasted two years in New York before returning to New England as a fulltime offensive assistant for the first time in his career last season.
Patricia hasn’t returned to the Patriots’ staff in a new capacity. It is unknown whether Patricia will be a part of the organization moving forward after being removed as the Patriots’ offensive playcaller and offensive line coach and replaced by Bill O’brien and Adrian Klemm, respectively.
Sports Illustrated first reported Judge’s new role.
Mecole Hardman says playing with Garrett Wilson and Allan Lazard was the main reason he signed with Jets.
Last week, a significant domino fell as Aaron Rodgers said he intended to play for the Jets during an appearance on The Pat Mcafee Show.
Because of Rodgers potentially playing for the Jets next season, several players may be interested in playing with a former fourtime NFL MVP and Super Bowl winner.
However, that didn’t factor into Mecole Hardman’s decision to sign with the Jets.
“I think the Jets were a good situation,” Hardman said. “I think they have a great foundation here and they got some nice pieces.
“Allen Lazard him signing I think playing aside him and they have a great second-year player in Garrett Wilson, who had an absolute wonderful year. Guys with those names to play alongside them is attractive.
“Obviously, the news with A-rod and everything, we still don’t know what’s going on with that as that’s something you can think about. Besides that, the Jets were the right fit for me.”
On Thursday morning, Hardman officially signed his one-year contract with the Jets. According to multiple reports, Hardman’s deal is for $6.5 million.
Hardman began his career with the Chiefs after he was selected in the second round of the 2019 NFL Draft out of Georgia. At the time, Hardman was compared to Seahawks wide receiver Tyler Lockett as he displayed explosive route running with the ability to get past cornerbacks and safeties in the secondary.